June 21, (THEWILL) – Manchester City are reportedly finalising a £30 million deal with Chelsea to secure the services of midfielder, Mateo Kovacic.
The English Premier League champions are expected to make an initial payment of £25 million for the 29-year-old Croatian player, with an additional £5 million, potentially due in add-ons. Kovacic arrived on loan at Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid in 2018 and is approaching the final year of his contract with Chelsea.
This impending transfer will mark Man City’s first signing during the current summer transfer window, bolstering manager Pep Guardiola’s midfield options. This move was considered necessary, especially with the uncertainty surrounding the future of captain, Ilkay Gundogan, whose contract expires at the end of this month. Although Pep Guardiola has insisted that he will make every effort to keep Gundogan, there is uncertainty regarding whether he will stay or leave.
With Mateo Kovacic’s imminent departure, Chelsea may witness a series of player exits, as new manager, Mauricio Pochettino, looks to streamline the squad. The 29-year-old midfielder, who clinched three UEFA Champions League titles with Real Madrid and one with Chelsea, is expected to be the first casualty of Pochettino’s squad reshaping. Earlier on Wednesday, the Blues bid farewell to French midfielder, N’Golo Kante, who has decided to join Saudi Arabian club, Al Ittihad.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
